Hot Snitzel Back to Full Fitness Ahead of 2015 Southern Cross Stakes

February 14, 2015

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The Gerald Ryan-trained Hot Snitzel hasn’t been seen on the track since May last year following emergency colic surgery, however the gelding is ready to return at Royal Randwick today (Saturday) in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).

Hot Snitzel is back to full fitness ahead of the Southern Cross Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

Hot Snitzel missed out on a spring campaign when he suddenly got sick but he has bounced back to full fitness in record time and Ryan is ready to get him back to racing.

“We had him back in work getting ready for the spring and he suddenly got sick and had to have an operation,” the trainer told Sky Racing.

“We just had to give him time after the colic surgery and I’m really happy with him. He has a good record first-up and this looks a nice race for him to kick off in.

“He is a horse that is just below Group One level. We have tried him and he is a length off them so we will pick our races with him.”

Hot Snitzel is the $4.20 second favourite in the Southern Cross betting at Ladbrokes.com.au, for which Gai Waterhouse’s Driefontein is the $2.90 firm favourite.

The six-year-old will enjoy the inside jump from barrier one with champion hoop Kerrin McEvoy to ride.

Hot Snitzel has an extensive record over 1200 metres and has won his two starts over the track and distance of the 2015 Southern Cross Stakes. This includes the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) last April, on the back of a runner-up finish in the Group 3 Sebring Stakes (1200m).

The gelding then travelled to Brisbane during the winter but couldn’t place in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m), Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m), or the Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m).

Ryan will likely be on hand to see Hot Snitzel return to the track on Saturday seeing as stable favourite Red Excitement was scratched from the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield.

Open your Ladbrokes.com.au online betting account and back Hot Snitzel in the 2015 Southern Cross Stakes to receive a bonus match worth up to $250 on your first bet. Simply quote code: BETBONUS.

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